California's most notorious killers

CaptionTimothy Joseph McGhee

Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Timothy Joseph McGhee: A northeast Los Angeles gang leader described by police as a "monster" who boasted in rap lyrics about his hatred of police and his love of killing. McGhee, a member of the Toonerville gang, was sentenced to death in January 2009 for the murder of two rival gang members...

Timothy Joseph McGhee: A northeast Los Angeles gang leader described by police as a "monster" who boasted in rap lyrics about his hatred of police and his love of killing. McGhee, a member of the Toonerville gang, was sentenced to death in January 2009 for the murder of two rival gang members... (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo: Accused by police of opening fire at a 2008 Christmas Eve party at a Covina home and then setting the house ablaze, killing nine people. Several hours later, Pardo killed himself at his brother's home in Sylmar.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo: Accused by police of opening fire at a 2008 Christmas Eve party at a Covina home and then setting the house ablaze, killing nine people. Several hours later, Pardo killed himself at his brother's home in Sylmar. (Associated Press)

Charles Manson: On an infamous summer night in 1969, Manson and his young followers entered a Benedict Canyon mansion and murdered five people. A maid arrived at the rented home of director Roman Polanski and his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, and found Tate and four others dead, "their...

Charles Manson: On an infamous summer night in 1969, Manson and his young followers entered a Benedict Canyon mansion and murdered five people. A maid arrived at the rented home of director Roman Polanski and his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, and found Tate and four others dead, "their... (Associated Press)

In court in 1985, Richard Ramirez flashes a pentagram drawn on the palm of his hand. Similar symbols were found in his car, his jail cell and at the Los Angeles area homes of some of his 13 torture-murder victims.

In court in 1985, Richard Ramirez flashes a pentagram drawn on the palm of his hand. Similar symbols were found in his car, his jail cell and at the Los Angeles area homes of some of his 13 torture-murder victims. (Los Angeles Times)

Angelo Anthony Buono Jr., shown in court in 1984, is one of the men known as the "Hillside Strangler." He and his cousin Kenneth Bianchi were convicted of kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing girls and women from late 1977 to early 1978. They committed their crimes in the hills above Los...

Angelo Anthony Buono Jr., shown in court in 1984, is one of the men known as the "Hillside Strangler." He and his cousin Kenneth Bianchi were convicted of kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing girls and women from late 1977 to early 1978. They committed their crimes in the hills above Los... (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)